CHIEFS ANNOUNCE COACHING STAFF
The Chilliwack Chiefs are proud to announce that Doug Ast and Brandon Fleenor will be the team’s assistant coaches; Paul Nicolls will hold the role of strength and conditioning coach while Rob Bruni will assume the role of goaltender coach.
With the move, General Manager and Head Coach Harvey Smyl has brought on four men who are all former Junior A Hockey players, three of whom suited up for the Chilliwack Chiefs and all are current Chilliwack residents.
Doug Ast is the only player in the history of the Chiefs to be the Captain for two seasons, 1992-1994. During the 1993-94 campaign he recorded a whopping 130 points, including 55 goals in 51 games. Ast has 13 years of pro hockey experience including University, ECHL, AHL and internationally in Germany where his team recently retired his jersey number. Ast also attended the Vancouver Canucks training camp twice and played in the 2008 Spengler Cup in Davos Switzerland. General Manager and Head Coach Harvey Smyl says Ast brings many assets to the table, “Doug has had a ton of on ice success and boasts strong leadership and communication skills. He is very intelligent and enjoys teaching.” As for Ast he could not be happier for the opportunity to work with the Chiefs, “It is an honor and a privilege to be back with the Chiefs. Playing in Chilliwack was a huge part of my life and enabled me to move on to play professional hockey.”
Brandon Fleenor is regarded as one of the most popular players ever to dawn a Chiefs jersey. Fleenor spent 3 seasons in the BCHL, one with the Langley Thunder and two in Chilliwack that included the 1998-99 season where he played 56 games and amassed 44 points and 191 penalty minutes.
The Chiefs fan favorite went on to play 6 years of pro hockey including a stint with the Motor City Mechanics of the UHL where he played with the likes of Chris Chelios, Derian Hatcher and Sean Avery. Fleenor returned to his hometown of Chilliwack to coach Pee Wee AAA and Bantam AAA hockey for 5 years. Brandon is thrilled with his new role, “I have so much respect for the Chiefs Ownership group and to be able to coach with Harv will be unbelievable.” Fleenor added, ”Dougie, Robbie and Paul are great guys and I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with them.”
Fleenor is also a certified financial planner at Money Concepts.
Paul Nicolls returns to the Chiefs for his second tour of duty as part of the coaching staff. He was an assistant for Smyl from 1998-2000 which included a trip to the Royal Bank Cup National Championship in Fort McMurray Alberta where the Chiefs garnered a Bronze Medal. Nicolls also played for the Chiefs and was a teammate of Ast during the 91-92 season. Following his hockey playing career and his 5 years as a professional hockey linesman Nicolls focused his attention on personal training. That passion led him to his current occupation as Owner/Operator of Xceed Training Centre in Chilliwack where he has been for five years. Smyl says Nicolls will fit in perfectly with his new role as a Chief, “Paul’s playing and coaching experience provides him invaluable knowledge as a personal trainer, he understands what a player needs to do to play at this level.” Nicolls graduated from the Institute of Integrated Nutrition in 2011.
Rob Bruni will be entering year nine as the Chiefs goaltending coach. He began his Junior A playing days as a 16 year old and went on to stop pucks for 5 seasons between Prince George, Abbotsford and Langley. Bruni was named an All Star twice. He is excited to see the team back in his community, “Having the Chiefs back in Chilliwack is amazing and being able to work with the coaching staff Harv has put together will be awesome.” Smyl feels Bruni will continue to be a perfect fit for his coaching staff, ”Rob has been part of Junior A hockey for a long time and his experience will be a real benefit for our entire coaching staff.” Bruni is currently the owner/operator of Bruni 5 Enterprises which is a flooring contractor in Chilliwack.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2011-12 BCHL season, for more information call 604 39CHIEF (604 392 4433) or visit chilliwackchiefs.net.
